The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-03-02

Mr.. II. T.. FRIES Is looking AFTER the
disposition of convict labor. Under a
resolution introduced by him a Special
Committee has been appointed to look
into all the acts of the legislature for ter
years past and ascertain just how many
convicts have been set apart for various
public works. railways, county improve
ment schemes, &c.
"A bill incorporating the Winston
| Land Improvement Company passed its
| third reading in the Senate on the Goth
| ult. The following passed their second
readings in the House: A bill to incor-
porate the Salem, Winston & Dan River
Railroad, a bill to allow the townships
| of Surry and Yadkin to vote on subscrip.
| ton to North Western North Carolina
| Railroad, a bill to amend charter Of
Yadkin Railroad Company.
VA bill has passed the U. S. Senate,
with only one dissenting voice, and is
now pending in the House, to refund to
the respective States the amount Of
| direct land tax collected under the act
| of August 5, 1861. North Cardinals por
ton of this tax was 1896, 194.67, of which
she had paid up to the time when the
collection was suspended by President
Johnston in 1866, 1886, 1916, which
amount will be refunded if the act passes
the House, which it doubtless will
although it will hardly be reached this
session, which is about an end.
1t was reported recently that a club
which owned a large tract of land in the
| Adirondack mountains in New York
had made arrangements to import some
Australian rabbits for breeding purposes
A protest against the importation, and q
petition to prohibit it has been presented
to Congress. According to naturalists
one pair of healthy rabbits will, in five
years, become the ancestors of one mil
lion and a half of rabbits. In New Zeal
and, where n pair was introduced not
many years ago, they now number many
millions and are so numerous in some
sections that sheep raising, once a large
industry, has been practically aban'
doned.
There were some terrible earth
quake shocks in Italy and portions OF
many houses and totally destroying some
small towns. There was also consider
able loss of life. At Bagordo 800 persons
were killed and wounded, at Diane
Marina $50 killed and wounded, at Bres
sane so killed and SO wounded, at Diane
CASTILLO 80 killed, at Castellano 80 killed
and many wounded. In the province Of
Porto Maurizio it is estimated that sc
persons were killed and 156 wounded
in the province of Genoa 81 killed AND
81 wounded. Several churches, into some
of which the frightened people fled fol-
refuge, were destroyed.
Judge Bynum, who resides in Char
lotte, visited Florida about the middle O
January, returning last week. He
locked his house up and left it in charge
of an old colored man. He locked his
silver ware, valued at $500, up in &
trunk, which was placed in his bee
room. On returning he found the trunk
broken open and the silver ware stolen
He went to the express office hoping tt
find some clue to it, and while there was
informed by the express agent that there
was a heavy box in the office addressed
to him, from New York City. He care
lessly ordered it sen to his house anc
went to his Office. On going to his
dinner, the box was broken open anc
every piece of silver stolen was found ir
it, carefully wrapped and packed, anc
not in the least damaged. 1t was carried
to New York, but how it came to be
sent back he has no idea.